Author: Richmond Keelson, Ontario, Canada
And so, after rallying the people of Ogyakrom to oust King Nadaa Kufudo and his destructive Elephant cabal, King Jhonmani Maama made a solemn vow to reset and rebuild Ogyakrom under one Umbrella—symbolizing unity. At 66, he still retains his boyish charm, ever smiling even in the face of the harshest provocations from the leader of the remnant Elephant’s super micro-minority—Penyo Mac-kins.
Penyo was miffed that King Maama dared to lament how the Elephants, during their eight-year spree of destruction, had torn apart the very fabric of Ogyakrom. This grievance surfaced during the Assembly briefing by the new King. As the ever-attention-seeking Penyo thought he had cornered King Maama in what seemed like a one-sided bout, Johnmani remained unfazed, wearing his signature smile—the very smile that earned him the nickname The Beautiful Assassin from the ladies of Ogyakrom.
It was in a similar setting that Naa Amerley Kufudowaa, wife of King Kufudo, flew into a tantrum, hurling insults at Marh K. Bua for daring to ridicule her husband, King Naada, during the final monarchical sitting of 1824, which ushered in the new King Maama’s monarch in 1825. Many saw her outburst as a reflection of the ruthless expression displayed by Ahoufe Kufudo during that last Assembly session. Marh K. Bua was the peoples’ representative at Lembelle in the Western half of Ogyakrom.
Clearly, Ahoufe’s pent-up frustration stemmed from Marh K. Bua’s suggestion that he had deceived God by failing to fulfill his personal vow to build a grand Cathedral for the Lord—an accusation that struck a nerve with his beloved wife. In contrast stood King Johnmani. But don’t be deceived—there’s more to him than meets the eye. Wondering why he earned the moniker The Beautiful Assassin?
Hawa Yakubu Suweiba explains: “We love his calm disposition. Behind that broad smile lies a ruthless streak—the kind Ogyakrom needs to restore hope and confidence in her people.”
…And Kufo Mpare Tastes the Venom of the Beautiful Assassin
Beyond his pleasant public image lay an inner trait that many within the Ogyakrom Guard units found inimical to the growth and development of the Ogyakrom Security Guard Unit. Civilians and civil society groups often labeled the Ogyakrom Guard “Abaen,” summing up its submissiveness to the Monarch.
Yet, upon being chosen by Nadaa as the Chief Commander of Abaen, Kufo Mpare assumed a near-mythical status, reminiscent of Ogyakrom’s colonial days, when those in his position wielded unquestionable authority—he who all must obey. In his quest for dominance, he formed a paramilitary faction within the Guard, which he dubbed the Elite Ogyakrom Security Guards. This special unit operated outside the conventional chain of command, answering only to the Supreme Commander—Kufo Mpare himself.
To his credit, Commander Mpare undertook some impressive projects, including the superficial transformation of the Abaen headquarters, which endeared him to neutrals and outsiders. But trust the Beautiful Assassin to see beyond the façade. True to his nature, King Jhonmani Maama maintained his composure. Whenever murmurs arose about Mpare’s divisive reign, he dismissed them with calculated calm.
However, when he finally became convinced that the polarization Mpare had caused was untenable, he acted decisively stripping him of his position as Commander of the Ogyakrom Security Guard. Interestingly, Mpare’s charm offensive had even ensnared some elite groups. Before a verdict could be reached on his fate, two loyalists—Kweisie Nning and Ryte Seemon—hurried to the Ogyakrom Holy Interpretation Shrine, urging the custodian seers to decree that no Monarch should have the power to remove a Security Commander before the statutory retirement age of 60.
Ironically, one of the convenors, Kweisie Nning, had lost his voice during King Nadaa’s reign, even going into self-imposed exile after facing threats from the previous Monarch’s surrogates and assigns. Now, he and his co-conspirator sought to exploit what they perceived as the mild disposition of Nadaa’s successor. King Jhonmani Maama. How wrong they were.
They met the Beautiful Assassin at his most ruthless. His patience had worn thin, and their audacious attempt to dictate governance only fueled his resolve. Many believe their desperate maneuver was the final straw that pushed King Jhonmani Maama to sack Mpare immediately—as if to tell them, “I have removed him; do your worst now.”
Significantly, their petition had no legal or customary basis. According to Ogyakrom traditions, the Monarch holds the exclusive authority to appoint and remove a Security Commander, irrespective of the individual’s age. This has been the practice since the inception of the Ogyakrom Kingdom.
Unless Ogyakromnians amend this custom and someone attempts to flout the new rule, no one has the standing to challenge such decisions at the Interpretation Shrine. One cannot contest a tradition that does not exist. Unfortunately, the litigants lost sight of this fundamental customary principle—or perhaps they simply saw an opportunity to assert their relevance.
Yet, the Beautiful Assassin has revealed the beast lurking beneath his charm.
